Cheltenham 2018 Day Four Winner Odds & Predictions – March 16th, 2018

Full Gold Cup day preview

Cheltenham Festival

Gold Cup Day is Friday at the Cheltenham Festival and that naturally is the big feature race of the day’s racing. Pretty much the whole day revolves around the running of the Gold Cup but there are some other wonderful and exciting features taking centre stage in support, such as the Albert Bartlett and the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

It’s that Gold Cup win though that all punters want to land and it is Might Bite who is heading up the ante-post market for the big event. Here we take a look at some of the other favourites and offer tips for the full card on Gold Cup day.

1.30 The JCB Triumph Hurdle (2m 1f)

The impressive Apple’s Shakira is the clear front-runner in this one at the head of the market at 5/2 with bet365* (betting odds taken March 13th, 2018 at 4:38 p.m.). However, she is going to have to deal with a big field in this one and she really hasn’t beaten anyone of note in her career, so her credentials will be put on the line. Soft ground will help her challenger though and has won at the course. The main each way options we see in the race are Mr Adjudicator and We Have A Dream who at least brings the good form to the threat. However, Stormy Ireland carries big potential and gets our nod to finish in the top three. Apple’s Shakira is likely to land the win though.

Apples Shakira 5/2, Redicean 5/1, Stormy Ireland 15/2, Farclas 8/1, Mr Adjudicator 8/1, Soldier 10/1, We Have A Dream 11/1, Sussex Ranger 16/1, 25/1 bar* (betting odds taken March 13th, 2018 at 4:38 p.m.)

2.10 The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Race (2m 1f)

Flying Tiger looks well positioned and has been handled well in the build-up to Cheltenham so that should put him in good stead to make a run a this. Solomon Grey, a 25/1 shot at bet365* (betting odds taken March 13th, 2018 at 4:38 p.m.) has been carrying good form through the season and is a nice each way option. So too his stablemate Mohaayed is quietly in good shape including the third place behind Buveur D’Air at the Christmas Hurdle. Wide open field, fill your boots with each way options.

Deal D’estruval 14/1, Flying Tiger 14/1, Ivanovich Gorbatov 14/1, A Hare Breath 16/1, Bleu Et Rouge 16/1, Call Me Lord 16/1, Chesterfield 16/1, Sandsend 16/1, bar 20/1* (betting odds taken March 13th, 2018 at 4:38 p.m.)

2.50 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (3m)

Santini is looking for a maiden Grade One victory in this one and after beating Chef Des Obeaux on his debut so that puts him in good stead. But there should be a good rivalry renewed between the two on the day. Santini has won at Cheltenham too with a success at the Ballymore Classic and just likes to stay on well and the distance of 3 miles shouldn’t be any trouble for him. He jumps well and form puts him at the head of the market and is value to deliver on that backing as well.

Santini 11/2, Chef Des Obeaux 6/1, Chriss Dream 12/1, Ok Corral 14/1, Poetic Rhythm 14/1, Red River 14/1, Calett Mad 16/1, 20/1 bar* (betting odds taken March 13th, 2018 at 4:38 p.m.)

3.30 The Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (3m 2 1/2f)

This is it then, the biggest race of the National Hunt season. Might Bite, who won the King George without having to be on top of his game is the favourite and does hold plenty of appeal at the head of the market. The bigger the advantage that he has over the last, the better shape he will be in, because coming up the hill may be his biggest challenge in this one. Road To Respect is so well priced as a challenger and likes an outing at Cheltenham and is in form after winning the Christmas Chase against a quality field that included Yorkhill and Sizing John. He has great form behind him and is well worth an each way bet. Native River will benefit the most in this race from the soft ground and will be better for his third place last year in the Blue Riband chase. Our Duke is improving all the while and he takes on the challenge of his first Gold Cup. Might Bike ticks all of the boxes, but Road To Respect is bang on value for an each way shot.

Might Bite 3/1, Native River 4/1, Our Duke 13/2, Killultagh Vic 9/1, Road To Respect 9/1, Definitly Red 12/1, Total Recall 16/1, Edwulf 16/1, Minella Rocco 20/1, bar 25/1* (betting odds taken March 13th, 2018 at 4:38 p.m.)

4.00 The St. James’s Place Foxhunter Steeple Chase Challenge Cupe (3m 2 1/2f)

The Gold Cup is a hard act to follow, but that’s what the Foxhunter Chase has to do. The horse taking all the backing in the race is Burning Ambition who carries decent form into the race. But there is plenty of each way value in the field beyond Burning Ambition though with Wonderful Charm and Virak notable entries for Paul Nicholls. The trainer landed a 1-2 in last year’s renewal and beyond that Balnaslow and Sir Jack Yeats both have appeal at nice prices. A tough field to sift through, but Virak sits as a good each-way prospect.

Burning Ambition 3/1, Wonderful Charm 9/2, Foxrock 7/1, Caid Du Berlais 10/1, Virak 12/1, Balnaslow 14/1, On The Fringe 14/1, Sir Jack Yeats 14/1, Volnay De Thaix 14/1, Grand Vision 20/1, bar 25/1* (betting odds taken March 13th, 2018 at 4:38 p.m.)

4.50 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (2m 4 1/2f)

A winner of course and distance this season has been Melrose Boy who is a 20/1 option at bet365* (betting odds taken March 13th, 2018 at 4:38 p.m.). This is such a difficult field to chop your way through. But that form of Melrose Boy for Harry Fry at least should put him in contention. Gordon Elliott won this last year with Champagne Classic and is putting his stock in Flawless Escape at 7/1 odds* (betting odds taken March 13th, 2018 at 4:38 p.m.) which is a nice price for a great prospect. Dortmund Park has been talked up a lot and is dropping back in distance in this one which should suit him more and raises his chances of staying on strong.

Flawless Escape 7/1, Diese Des Bieffes 8/1, Sire Du Berlais 10/1, Deal Destruval 12/1, Dortmund Park 12/1, Whiskey Sour 12/1, Sandsend 14/1, Blow By Blow 14/1, Early Doors 14/1, bar 16/1* (betting odds taken March 13th, 2018 at 4:38 p.m.)

5.305 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Steeple Chase (2m 1/2f)

And so Cheltenham draws to a close for another year with the Grand Annual. One of the big movers in the ante-post market has been Theinval who has come on really strong in the betting. He was in contention last year but fluffed the last a little bit, veering off, and there is a chance he could be carrying less weight this go around. North Hill Harvey always stays strong in the betting, while Patrick Park is a dangerous handicapper and fantastic value at 14/1 each way* (betting odds taken March 13th, 2018 at 4:38 p.m.) to round off the Festival.

North Hill Harvey 9/1, Vaniteux 9/1, Don’t Touch It 10/1, Theinval 10/1, Patrick’s Park 14/1, Dandridge 16/1, Charbel 16/1, Dolos 16/1, Rock The World 16/1, Ordinary World 16/1, bar 20/1* (betting odds taken March 13th, 2018 at 4:38 p.m.)